Ok, ok.
Kept reptiles for years, mainly geckos, never kept torts, terrapins or anything inbetween...closes i've come is aquatic crabs...
So, my dad comes from from work, someone he works with's son wants a tortoise for his birthday, and his dad wants to provide me with all the information available..
Now, my first thing i will say to him, is that i wouldnt advise him getting a tort because his son will get bored with it, and he will end up looking after it/rehoming it...might be a bit rude to presume but we all know it happens, im going to try to convince him into a royal or a leo, something that he will have to pay attention to and can watch hunt etc, something to stop him getting bored. but, if he really wants a tortoise, can i have some info to give him? He dosnt know which he wants, and i know bugger all about torts. the only things i know are the big no-nos, ie, they need a tortoise table and not a vivarium, and don't feed them the pre-prepaired dried tortoise diet..
Any help welcome guys!

hmm i'd suggest a horsfield ( i'm biased as i have two ) he may get bored of em but they're right characters,my nephews adore my two.

tortoise table big yes
needs outdoor space
regular baths for hydration
if u get a med tortoise its a weed diet,definately no fruit..they can't digest it properly.
Nutrobol on feed (depends on age of tort as to how regular u may put it on)
limestone flour to sprinkle on food daily.
Some people swear by cuttlefish to provide tortoises with calcium when the tortoises themselves think they need it
Area to dig if a horsfield as they love it,
No cedar chips for substrate, poisonous to these as it is to snakes...something like hemp for the tortoise table or a play sand/top soil mix, are probably best.

theres so much more so > the best place to look..well the plaec that will have the most accurate in fo is Tortoise Trust Web - Start Page


Katie

Where to start ???

The first thing is he should plough through the TT website: Tortoise Trust Web - Start Page. Paying particular attention to housing/tort table, outdoor enclosure, lighting/uvb, substrate, diet, supplements, need for exotic vet, purchasing a UKCB tort (never from internet or petshop).

I would strongly recommend you stress that the tort is a LONG term pet, I rehome torts for the Trust and dread to think how many times I have heard 'kids are bored with it'. Get him to join forums such as TT's yahoo group/Tortsmad where there are thousands of people who will advise on the best tort to start with etc.

Tamie